Panies



Patented Aug. 28,- 1928.

UNITED" STATES PTENT OFFICE'.

LOUIS BOEPPLER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR '10 THE PARAFFINE COM.-IANIES, INC., F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

Loox Fon FOLDING" Boxns.

Application ledll'une 12, 1924. Serial No 719,474.

My invention relates to a folding box and particularly to a lock forholding a. folding 'box in set-up position..

An object of the invention is to provide 6 a lock for a folding boxwhich is readily engaged -and as readily disengaged but which does nottend to work loose of itself.

The invention possesses other obiects and features of advantage, some ofwhich,

l with the foregoing, will be set forth 1n the following description ofthe invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying andforming a part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do.not limit myself l to the showing made by said drawings and description,as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scopeof myinvention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings Figure l is an isometric view of a foldingbox' equipped with my lock, the tab being indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a plan. view of the flap in which the slit portion of mylock is placed. y

Figure 3 is4 a plan view of the Hap on which the tongue portion of mylock 1s disposed. n

My invention is particularly adaptable to cake boxes as it is readilyengaged or as readily disengaged if it is desired to knock down a box.after it has been set up. It 1s customary for a manufacturer to have 'alarge number of boxes assembled in advance to handle thel peak load moreeiiiciently.

Frequently part of these boxes are not use d and it is necessary to takethem down.v This latter operation often tears and bends the tabs thusrendering the box unusable..

The lock of my invention may be applied 40 to the ordinary type offolding box provided with oppositely disposed flaps extend-v ing fromthe back and front walls thereof and which overlap the flap secured tothe bottom portion of the box and forming the lining for the end. Thehead portion 2 preferably terminates in a hook on one side which extendsbeyond the. neck portion 4 approxi? mately one-third of the breadth ofthemeck. The flap 6 is' provided with an angular slit having a shortside 7 disposed at an acute angle to the long side 8, the length ofwhich is greater than the breadth of the head portion2 of the tab. Theangular slit is so fornied that the ends 9 and 11 arel spaced apart adistance less than the breadth of the head of the engaging tab.

To fasten the lock of my invention the head 2 is inserted in the slitand the flap 3 pushed downwardly slightly to permit the end of the hookto pass thru the aperture at the vertex of the angular slit. The flap 3is then permitted to assume its normal position and the neck portion 4then lies in alinenrent with the ends of the slit so that the hookportion extends above side 7 of the slit and locks the two 'flaps'together.

The lock may be released by a single movement by pushing the flapdownwardly until the point of the hook slips from under the side 7 ofthe slit which will permit the head to be disengaged from the slit. Theengag? ing or diseiigaging operation places no strain on the tab so thatthe box may be set up or taken down without injury to the blank.

There is thus provided afolding box the setting up of which isaccomplished by very simple motions and which is at the same timeexceedingly stable. This stability arises largely from the character ofthe scalene triangle .configuration of the slit, and

'the hook of the tab. Jwhich permits the joining and locking of theflaps so that when the two flaps are joined over the end lining -iap theparts are mutually interlocked without tendency to relative movement orloosening.

I claim:

1. A lock for a paper box comprising a flap terminating in a tonguehaving a widened head portion, and a complementary flap having anangular slit, the distance from the apex of the angle t6 one end of theslit being greater than the .width of the ,head and'the ends of the slitbeing spaced apart a distance less thanv the width of the head.

2. A folding paper box comprising front and rear walls, end flaps onsaid walls, one of said flaps being provided with a tongue terminatingin a transversely disposed hook, and the other' flap having aslitcoinciding with two sides of a s calene triangle, one side of theslit being long enough to pass the hooked tongue and the distancebetween the -ends of the slit being such as to catchthe.

hooked tongue to fasten the flaps together..

3. A lock for a paper box, comprising a flap terminating in a tonguehaving a` widened head, and a complementary ,flap

having an acute angular slit, the distaice between the apex of said slitand' one end thereof being greater than the width of saidA head, andboth sides of said slit adapted to overlie said tongue when interlockedtherewith.

4. In a folding paper box the combination of oppositely disposed wallsspaced apart by an intervening wall, a flap extending from one of saidoppositely disposed walls and terminating in a tongue having a widenedhead, and a Complementary flap extending from the other of saidoppositely disposed walls and having an acute angular slit, the distancebetween the apex of said slit and one end thereof being greater than thewidth of said head, and both sides ofsaid slit'being adapted to overliesaid tongue 'when interlooked therewith.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

LoUIs BOEPPLER.

